Strauss' ton helps England beat Pakistan

England almost failed to make the most of captain Andrew Strauss's hundred before sealing a four-wicket win over Pakistan in the second ODI.

Written by Agence-France Presse

Read Time: 3 mins

Leeds:

England almost failed to make the most of captain Andrew Strauss's hundred before sealing a four-wicket win over Pakistan in the second one-day international at Headingley on Sunday.

England, chasing 295 for victory, were cruising at 220 for two but slumped to 260 for five with opening batsman Strauss out for 126 - his fifth century in 110 matches at this level and second hundred in three.

They eventually got home with three balls to spare to go 2-0 up in this five-match series after a 24-run win at The Riverside on Friday.

England, not long after Strauss was out, needed 42 off the last five overs.

Ravi Bopara and Michael Yardy got the target down to 13 off 12 balls before Bopara lofted off-spinner Saeed Ajmal to Mohammad Hafeez at long-off.

However, new batsman Tim Bresnan cut Ajmal first ball for four and England needed six off the last over, from seamer Umar Gul.

Bresnan was unable to score off a near yorker length first delivery but the second was an offside wide and that left England needing five off five balls.

Bresnan's top-edged hook for four off the next ball, a bouncer, saw England draw level and then a single with Bresnan out by yards had Fawad Alam's throw hit the stumps, saw the hosts to victory.

Bresnan finished 10 not out.

Kamran Akmal top-scored with 74 in Pakistan's 294 for eight as they tried to turn attention away from the spot-fixing scandal engulfing their tour.

He put on 122 with fellow opener Mohammad Hafeez (43) before Mohammad Yousuf (46) and Asad Shafiq (50) shared 74 for the third wicket.